α-1,4-glucan lyase from a fungus, its purification gene cloning and expression in microorganisms

ABSTRACT

A method of preparing ∝-glucan lyase enzymes is described. The method comprises isolating the enzymes from a culture of fungus wherein the culture is substantially free of any other organisms. Also described are the amino acid sequences for the enzymes and their coding sequences.

The present invention relates to an enzyme, in particular α-1,4-glucan lyase ("GL"). The present invention also relates to a method of extracting same.

FR-A-2617502 and Baute et al in Phytochemistry 1988! vol. 27 No. 11 pp 3401-3403 report on the production of 1,5-D-anhydrofructose ("AF") in Morchella vulganis by an apparent enzymatic reaction. The yield of production of AF is quite low. Despite a reference to a possible enzymatic reaction, neither of these two documents presents any amino acid sequence data for any enzyme let alone any nucleotide sequence information. These documents say that AF can be a precursor for the preparation of the antibiotic pyrone microthecin.

Yu et al in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1993! vol 1156 pp 313-320 report on the preparation of GL from red seaweed and its use to degrade α-1,4-glucan to produce AF. The yield of production of AF is quite low. Despite a reference to the enzyme GL this document does not present any amino acid sequence data for that enzyme let alone any nucleotide sequence information coding for the same. This document also suggests that the source of GL is just algal.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of preparing the enzyme α-1,4-glucan lyase comprising isolating the enzyme from a culture of a fungus wherein the culture is substantially free of any other organism.

Preferably the enzyme is isolated and/or further purified using a gel that is not degraded by the enzyme.

Preferably the gel is based on dextrin or derivatives thereof, preferably a cyclodextrin, more preferably beta-cyclodextrin.

According to the present invention there is also provided a GL enzyme prepared by the method of the present invention.

Preferably the fungus is Morchella costata or Morchella vulgaris.

Preferably the enzyme comprises the amino acid sequence SEQ. ID. No. 1 or SEQ. I.D. No. 2, or any variant thereof.

The term "any variant thereof" means any substitution of, variation of, modification of, replacement of, deletion of or addition of an amino acid from or to the sequence providing the resultant enzyme has lyase activity.

According to the present invention there is also provided a nucleotide sequence coding for the enzyme α-1,4-glucan lyase, preferably wherein the sequence is not in its natural enviroment (i.e. it does not form part of the natural genome of a cellular organism expressing the enzyme).

Preferably the nucleotide sequence is a DNA sequence.

Preferably the DNA sequence comprises a sequence that is the same as, or is complementary to, or has substantial homology with, or contains any suitable codon substitution(s) for any of those of, SEQ. ID. No. 3 or SEQ. ID. No. 4.

The expression "substantial homology" covers homology with respect to structure and/or nucleotide components and/or biological activity.

The expression "contains any suitable codon substitutions" covers any codon replacement or substitution with another codon coding for the same amino acid or any addition or removal thereof providing the resultant enzyme has lyase activity.

In other words, the present invention also covers a modified DNA sequence in which at least one nucleotide has been deleted, substituted or modified or in which at least one additional nucleotide has been inserted so as to encode a polypeptide having the activity of a glucan lyase, preferably an enzyme having an increased lyase activity.

According to the present invention there is also provided a method of preparing the enzyme α-1,4-glucan lyase comprising expressing the nucleotide sequence of the present invention.

According to the present invention there is also provided the use of beta-cyclodextrin to purify an enzyme, preferably GL.

According to the present invention there is also provided a nucleotide sequence wherein the DNA sequence is made up of at least a sequence that is the same as, or is complementary to, or has substantial homology with, or contains any suitable codon substitutions for any of those of, SEQ. ID. No. 3 or SEQ. ID. No. 4, preferably wherein the sequence is in isolated form.

The present invention therefore relates to the isolation of the enzyme α-1,4-glucan lyase from a fungus. For example, the fungus can be any one of Discina perlata, Discina parma, Gyromitra gigas, Gyromitra infula, Mitrophora hybrida, Morchella conica, Morchella costata, Morchella elata, Morchella hortensis, Morchella rotunda, Morchella vulgaris, Peziza badia, Sarcosphaera eximia, Disciotis venosa, Gyromitra esculenta, Helvella crispa, Helvella lacunosa, Leptopodia elastica, Verpa digitaliformis, and other forms of Morchella. Preferably the fungus is Morchella costata or Morchella vulgaris.

The initial enzyme purification can be performed by the method as described by Yu et al (ibid).

However, preferably, the initial enzyme purification includes an optimized procedure in which a solid support is used that does not decompose under the purification step. This gel support further has the advantage that it is compatible with standard laboratory protein purification equipment.

The details of this optimized purification strategy are given later on. The purification is terminated by known standard techniques for protein purification.

The purity of the enzyme can be readily established using complementary electrophoretic techniques.

The purified lyase GL has been characterized according to pI, temperature- and pH-optima.

In this regard the fungal lyase shows a pI around 5.4 as determined by isoelectric focusing on gels with pH gradient of 3 to 9. The molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE on 8-25% gradient gels was 110 kDa. The enzyme exhibits a pH optimum in the range pH 5-7. The temperature optimum was found to lay between 30-45° C.

    ______________________________________     GL sources             Optimal pH                       Optimal pH range                                    Optimal temperature     ______________________________________     M. costata             6.5       5.5-7.5      37 C; 40 C.sup.a     M. vulgaris             6.4       5.9-7.6      43 C; 48 C.sup.a     ______________________________________

Parameters determined using glycogen as substrate; other parameters determined using amylopectin as substrate.

In a preferred embodiment the α-1,4-glucan lyase is purified from the fungus Morchella costata by affinity chromatography on β-cyclodextrin Sepharose, ion exchange on Mono Q HR 5/5 and gel filtration on Superose 12 columns.

PAS staining indicates that the fungal lyase was not glycosylated. In the cell-free fungus extract, only one form of α-1,4-glucan lyase was detected by activity gel staining on electrophoresis gels.

The enzyme should preferably be secreted to ease its purification. To do so the DNA encoding the mature enzyme is fused to a signal sequence, a promoter and a terminator from the chosen host.

For expression in Aspergillus niger the gpdA (from the Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene of Aspergillus nidulans) promoter and signal sequence is fused to the 5' end of the DNA encoding the mature lyase--such as SEQ I.D. No. 3 or SEQ. I.D. No. 4. The terminator sequence from the A. niger trpC gene is placed 3' to the gene (Punt, P. J. et al (1991): J. Biotech. 17, 19-34). This construction is inserted into a vector containing a replication origin and selection origin for E. coli and a selection marker for A. niger. Examples of selection markers for A. niger are the amdS gene, the argB gene, the pyrG gene, the hygB gene, the BmlR gene which all have been used for selection of transformants. This plasmid can be transformed into A. niger and the mature lyase can be recovered from the culture medium of the transformants.

The construction can be transformed into a protease deficient strain to reduce the proteolytic degradation of the lyase in the culture medium (Archer D. B. et al (1992): Biotechnol. Lett. 14, 357-362).

The amino acid composition can be established according to the method of Barholt and Jensen (Anal Biochem 1989! vol 177 pp 318-322). The sample for the amino acid analysis of the purified enzyme can contain 69 ug/ml protein.

The amino acid sequence of the GL enzymes according to the present invention are shown in SEQ. I.D. No. 1 and SEQ. I.D. No. 2.

The following samples were deposited in accordance with the Budapest Treaty at the recognised depositary The National Collections of Industrial and Marine Bacteria Limited (NCIMB) at 23 St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, AB2 1RY on Oct. 3, 1994:

E. Coli containing plasmid pMC (NCIMB 40687)-- ref. DH5alpha-pMC!;

E. Coli containing plasmid pMV1 (NCIMB 40688)-- ref. DH5alpha-pMV1!; and

E. Coli containing plasmid pMV2 (NCIMB 40689)-- ref. DH5alpha-pMV2!.

Plasmid pMC is a pBluescript II KS containing a 4.1 kb fragment isolated from a genomic library constructed from Morchella costata. The fragment contains a gene coding for α-1,4-glucan lyase.

Plasmid pMV1 is a pBluescript II KS containing a 2.45 kb fragment isolated from a genomic library constructed from Morchella vulgaris. The fragment contains the 5' end of a gene coding for α-1,4-glucan lyase.

Plasmid MV2 is a pPUC19 containing a 3.1 kb fragment isolated from a genomic library constructed from Morchella vulgaris. The fragment contains the 3' end of a gene coding for α-1,4-glucan lyase.

In the following discussion, MC represents Morchella costata and MV represents Morchella vulgaris.

As mentioned, the GL coding sequence from Morchella vulgaris was contained in two plasmids. With reference to FIG. 5 (discussed later) pMV1 contains the nucleotides from position 454 to position 2902; and pMV2 contains the nucleotides downstream from (and including) position 2897. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 (discussed later), to ligate the coding sequences one can digest pMV2 with restriction enzymes EcoRI and BamHI and then insert the relevant fragment into pMV1 digested with restriction enzymes EcoRI and BamHI.

Thus highly preferred embodiments of the present invention include a GL enzyme obtainable from the expression of the GL coding sequences present in plasmids that are the subject of either deposit NCIMB 40687 or deposit NCIMB 40688 and deposit NCIMB 40689.

The present invention will now be described only by way of example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following Examples reference is made to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plasmid map of pMC;

FIG. 2 shows a plasmid map of pMV1;

FIG. 3 shows a plasmid map of pMV2;

FIG. 4 shows the GL coding sequence and part of the 5' and 3' non-translated regions for genomic DNA obtained from Morchella costata;

FIG. 5 shows the GL coding sequence and part of the 5' and 3' non-translated regions for genomic DNA obtained from Morchella vulganis;

FIG. 6 shows a comparison of the GL coding sequences and non-translated regions from Morchella costata and Morchella vulgaris;

FIG. 7 shows the amino acid sequence represented as SEQ. I.D. No. 1 showing positions of the peptide fragments that were sequenced; and

FIG. 8 shows the amino acid sequence represented as SEQ. I.D. No. 2 showing positions of the peptide fragments that were sequenced.

In more detail, in FIG. 4, the total number of bases is 4726--and the DNA sequence composition is: 1336 A; 1070 C; 1051 G; 1269 T. The ATG start codon is shown in bold. The introns are underlined. The stop codon is shown in italics.

In FIG. 5, the total number of bases is 4670--and the DNA sequence composition is: 1253 A; 1072 C; 1080 G; 1265 T. The ATG start codon is shown in bold. The introns are underlined. The stop codon is shown in italics.

In FIG. 6, the two aligned sequences are those obtained from MC (total number of residues: 1066) and MV (total number of residues: 1070). The comparison matrix used was a structure-genetic matrix (Open gap cost: 10; Unit gap cost: 2). In this, Figure, the character to show that two aligned residues are identical is `:`. The character to show that two aligned residues are similar is `.`. The amino acids said to be `similar` are: A,S,T; D,E; N,Q; R,K; I,L,M,V; F,Y,W. Overall there is: Identity: 920 (86.30%); Similarity: 51 (4.78%). The number of gaps inserted in MC is 1 and the number of gaps inserted in MV is 1.

In the attached sequence listings: SEQ. I.D.No. 1 is the amino-acid sequence for GL obtained from Morchella costata; SEQ. I.D.No. 2 is the amino-acid sequence for GL obtained from Morchella vulgaris; SEQ. I.D.No. 3 is the nucleotide coding sequence for GL obtained from Morchella costata; and SEQ. I.D.No. 4 is the nucleotide coding sequence for GL obtained from Morchella vulganis.

In SEQ. I.D. No. 1 the total number of residues is 1066. The GL enzyme has an amino acid composition of:

    ______________________________________     46 Ala    13 Cys    25 His    18 Met  73 Thr     50 Arg    37 Gln    54 Ile    43 Phe  23 Trp     56 Asn    55 Glu    70 Leu    56 Pro  71 Tyr     75 Asp    89 Gly    71 Lys    63 Ser  78 Val     ______________________________________

In SEQ.I.D. No. 2 the total number of residues is 1070. The GL enzyme has an amino acid composition of:

    ______________________________________     51 Ala    13 Cys    22 His    17 Met  71 Thr     50 Arg    40 Gln    57 Ile    45 Phe  24 Trp     62 Asn    58 Glu    74 Leu    62 Pro  69 Tyr     74 Asp    87 Gly    61 Lys    55 Ser  78 Val     ______________________________________

1. ENZYME PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE α-1,4-GLUCAN LYASE FROM THE FUNGUS MORCHELLA COSTATA

1.1 Materials and Methods

The fungus Morchella costata was obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The fungus was grown at 25° C. on a shaker using the culture medium recommended by ATCC. The mycelia were harvested by filtration and washed with 0.9% NaCl.

The fungal cells were broken by homogenization followed by sonication on ice for 6×3 min in 50 mM citrate-NaOH pH 6.2 (Buffer A). Cell debris were removed by centrifugation at 25,000×g for 40 min. The supernatant obtained at this procedure was regarded as cell-free extract and was used for activity staining and Western blotting after separation on 8-25% gradient gels.

1.2 Separation by β-cyclodextrin Sepharose gel

The cell-free extract was applied directly to a β-cyclodextrin Sepharose gel 4B clolumn (2.6×18 cm) pre equilibrated with Buffer A. The column was washed with 3 volumes of Buffer A and 2 volumes of Buffer A containing 1M NaCl. α-1,4-glucan lyase was eluted with 2% dextrins in Buffer A. Active fractions were pooled and the buffer changed to 20 mM Bis-tris propane-HCl (pH 7.0, Buffer B).

Active fractions were applied onto a Mono Q HR 5/5 column pre-equilibrated with Buffer B. The fungal lyase was eluted with Buffer B in a linear gradient of 0.3M NaCl.

The lyase preparation obtained after β-cyclodextrin Sepharose chromatography was alternatively concentrated to 150 μl and applied on a Superose 12 column operated under FPLC conditions.

1.3 Assay for α-1,4-glucan lyase activity and conditions for determination of substrate specificity, pH and temperature optimum

The reaction mixture for the assay of the α-1,4-glucan lyase activity contained 10 mg ml⁻¹ amylopectin and 25 mM Mes-NaOH (pH 6.0).

The reaction was carried out at 30° C. for 30 min and stopped by the addition of 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent. Optical density at 550 nm was measured after standing at room temperature for 10 min. 10 mM EDTA was added to the assay mixture when cell-free extracts were used.

The substrate amylopectin in the assay mixture may be replaced with other substrates and the reaction temperature may vary as specified in the text.

In the pH optimum investigations, the reaction mixture contained amylopection or maltotetraose 10 mg ml⁻¹ in a 40 mM buffer. The buffers used were glycine-NaOH (pH 2.0-3.5), HoAc-NaoAc (pH 3.5-5.5), Mes-NaOH (pH 5.5-6.7), Mops-NaOH (6.0-8.0) and bicine-NaOH (7.6-9.0). The reactions were carried out at 30° C. for 30 min. The reaction conditions in the temperature optimum investigations was the same as above except that the buffer Mops-NaOH (pH 6.0) was used in all experiments. The reaction temperature was varied as indicated in the text.

SDS-PAGE, Native-PAGE and isoelectrofocusing were performed on PhastSystem (Pharmacia, Sweden) using 8-25% gradient gels and gels with a pH gradient of 3-9, respectively. Following electrophoresis, the gels were stained by silver staining according to the procedures recommended by the manufacturer (Pharmacia). The glycoproteins were stained by PAS adapted to the PhastSystem. For activity staining, the electrophoresis was performed under native conditions at 6° C.

Following the electrophoresis, the gel was incubated in the presence of 1% soluble starch at 30° C. overnight. Activity band of the fungal lyase was revealed by staining with I₂ /KI solution.

1.4 Results

1.4.1 Purification, molecular mass and isoelectric point of the α-1,4-glucan lyase

The fungal lyase was found to adsorb on columns packed with β-cyclodextrin Sepharose, starches and Red Sepharose. Columns packed with β-cyclodextrin Sepharose 4B gel and starches were used for purification purposes.

The lyase preparation obtained by this step contained only minor contaminating proteins having a molecular mass higher than the fungal lyase. The impurity was either removed by ion exchange chromatography on Mono Q HR 5/5 or more efficiently by gel filtration on Superose 12.

The purified enzyme appeared colourless and showed no absorbance in the visible light region. The molecular mass was determined to 110 kDa as estimated on SDS-PAGE.

The purified fungal lyase showed a isoelectric point of pI 5.4 determined by isoelectric focusing on gels with a pH gradient of 3 to 9. In the native electrophoresis gels, the enzyme appeared as one single band. This band showed starch-degrading activity as detected by activity staining. Depending the age of the culture from which the enzyme is extracted, the enzyme on the native and isoelectric focusing gels showed either as a sharp band or a more diffused band with the same migration rate and pI.

1.4.2 The pH and temperature optimum of the fungal lyase catalayzed reaction

The pH optimum pH range for the fungal lyase catalyzed reaction was found to be between pH 5 and pH 7.

1.4.3 Substrate specificity

The purified fungal lyase degraded maltosaccharides from maltose to maltoheptaose. However, the degradation rates varied. The highest activity achieved was with maltotetraose (activity as 100%), followed by maltohexaose (97%), maltoheptaose (76%), maltotriose (56%) and the lowest activity was observed with maltose (2%).

Amylopectin, amylose and glycogen were also degraded by the fungal lyase (% will be determined). The fungal lyase was an exo-lyase, not a endolyase as it degraded p-nitrophenyl α-D-maltoheptaose but failed to degrade reducing end blocked p-nitrophenyl (α-D-maltoheptaose.

1.5 Morchella Vulgaris

The protocols for the enzyme purification and charaterisation of alpha 1,4-glucal lyase obtained from Morchella Vulgaris were the same as those above for Morchella Costata (with similar results--see results mentioned above).

2. AMINO ACID SEQUENCING OF THE α-1,4-GLUCAN LYASE FROM FUNGUS

2.1 Amino acid sequencing of the lyases

The lyases were digested with either endoproteinase Arg-C from Clostridium histolyticum or endoproteinase Lys-C from Lysobacter enzymogenes, both sequencing grade purchased from Boehringer Mannheim, Germany. For digestion with endoproteinase Arg-C, freezedried lyase (0.1 mg) was dissolved in 50 μl 10M urea, 50 mM methylamine, 0.1M Tris-HCl, pH 7.6. After overlay with N₂ and addition of 10 μl of 50 mM DTT and 5 mM EDTA the protein was denatured and reduced for 10 min at 50° C. under N₂. Subsequently, 1 μg of endoproteinase Arg-C in 10 μl of 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 was added, N₂ was overlayed and the digestion was carried out for 6 h at 37° C.

For subsequent cysteine derivatization, 12.5 μl 100 mM iodoacetamide was added and the solution was incubated for 15 min at RT in the dark under N₂.

For digestion with endoproteinase Lys-C, freeze dried lyase (0.1 mg) was dissolved in 50 μl of 8M urea, 0.4M NH₄ HCO₃, pH 8.4. After overlay with N₂ and addition of 5 μl of 45 mM DTT, the protein was denatured and reduced for 15 min at 50° C. under N₂. After cooling to RT, 5 μl of 100 mM iodoacetamide was added for the cysteines to be derivatized for 15 min at RT in the dark under N₂. Subsequently, 90 μl of water and 5 μg of endoproteinase Lys-C in 50 μl of 50 mM tricine and 10 mM EDTA, pH 8.0, was added and the digestion was carried out for 24 h at 37° C. under N₂.

The resulting peptides were separated by reversed phase HPLC on a VYDAC C18 column (0.46×15 cm; 10 μm; The Separations Group; California) using solvent A: 0.1% TFA in water and solvent B: 0.1% TFA in acetonifile. Selected peptides were rechromatographed on a Develosil C18 column (0.46×10 cm; 3 μm; Dr. Ole Schou, Novo Nordisk, Denmark) using the same solvent system prior to sequencing on an

Applied Biosystems 476A sequencer using pulsed-liquid fast cycles.

The amino acid sequence information from the enzyme derived from the fungus Morchella costata is shown FIG. 7.

The amino acid sequence information from the enzyme derived from the fungus Morchella vulgaris is shown FIG. 8.

3. DNA SEQUENCING OF GENES CODING FOR THE α-1,4-GLUCAN LYASE FROM FUNGUS

3.1 METHODS FOR MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

DNA was isolated as described by Dellaporte et al (1983--Plant Mol Biol Rep vol 1 pp 19-21).

3.2 PCR

The preparation of the relevant DNA molecule was done by use of the Gene Amp DNA Amplification Kit (Perkin Elmer Cetus, USA) and in accordance with the manufactures instructions except that the Taq polymerase was added later (see PCR cycles) and the temperature cycling was changed to the following:

    ______________________________________     PCR cycles:     no of cycles    C      time (min.)     ______________________________________     1               98     5                     60     5     addition of Taq polymerase and oil     35              94     1                     47     2                     72     3     1               72     20     ______________________________________

3.3 CLONING OF PCR FRAGMENTS

PCR fragments were cloned into pT7Blue (from Novagen) following the instructions of the supplier.

3.4 DNA SEQUENCING

Double stranded DNA was sequenced essentially according to the dideoxy method of Sanger et al. (1979) using the Auto Read Sequencing Kit (Pharmacia) and the Pharmacia LKB A.L.F.DNA sequencer. (Ref: Sanger, F., Nicklen, S. and Coulson, A. R. (1979). DNA sequencing with chain-determinating inhibitors. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 74: 5463-5467.)

3.5 SCREENING OF THE LIBRARIES

Screening of the Lambda Zap libraries obtained from Stratagene, was performed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions except that the prehybridization and hybridization was performed in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 10×Denhardt's and 100 μg/ml denatured salmon sperm DNA.

To the hybridization solution a 32P-labeled denatured probe was added. Hybridization was performed over night at 55° C. The filters were washed twice in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS and twice in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS.

3.6 PROBE

The cloned PCR fragments were isolated from the pT7blue vector by digestion with appropriate restriction enzymes. The fragments were seperated from the vector by agarose gel electrophoresis and the fragments were purified from the agarose by Agarase (Boehringer Mannheim). As the fragments were only 90-240 bp long the isolated fragments were exposed to a ligation reaction before labelling with 32P-dCTP using either Prime-It random primer kit (Stratagene) or Ready to Go DNA labelling kit (Pharmacia).

3.7 RESULTS

3.7.1 Generation of PCR DNA fragments coding for α-1,4-glucan lyase.

The amino acid sequences (shown below) of three overlapping tryptic peptides from α-1,4-glucan lyase were used to generate mixed oligonucleotides, which could be used as PCR primers for amplification of DNA isolated from both MC and MV.

Lys Asn Leu His Pro Gln His Lys Met Leu Lys Asp Thr Val Leu Asp Ile Val Lys Pro Gly His Gly Glu Tyr Val Gly Trp Gly Glu Met Gly Gly Ile Gln Phe Met Lys Glu Pro Thr Phe Met Asn Tyr Phe Asn Phe Asp Asn Met Gln Tyr Gln Gln Val Tyr Ala Gln Gly Ala Leu Asp Ser Arg Glu Pro Leu Tyr His Ser Asp Pro Phe Tyr SEQ ID NO: 5.

In the first PCR amplification primers A1/A2 (see below) were used as upstream primers and primers B1/B2 (see below) were used as downstream primer.

Primer A1: CA(GA)CA(CT)AA(GA)ATGCT(GATC)AA(GA)GA(CT)AC SEQ ID NO: 6

Primer A2: CA(GA)CA(CT)AA(GA)ATGTT(GA)AA(GA)GA(CT)AC SEQ ID NO: 7

Primer B1: TA(GA)AA(GATC)GG(GA)TC(GA)CT(GA)TG(GA)TA SEQ ID NO: 8

Primer B2: TA(GA)AA(GATC)GG(GA)TC(GATC)GA(GA)TG(GA)TA SEQ ID NO: 9

The PCR products were analysed on a 2% LMT agarose gel and fragments of the expected sizes were cut out from the gel and treated with Agarase (Boehringer Manheim) and cloned into the pT7blue Vector (Novagen) and sequenced.

The cloned fragments from the PCR amplification coded for amino acids corresponding to the sequenced peptides (see above) and in each case in addition to two intron sequences. For MC the PCR amplified DNA sequence corresponds to the sequence shown as from position 1202 to position 1522 with reference to FIG. 4. For MV the PCR amplified DNA sequence corresponds to the sequence shown as from position 1218 to position 1535 with reference to FIG. 5.

3.7.2 Screening of the genomic libraries with the cloned PCR fragments.

Screening of the libraries with the above-mentioned clone gave two clones for each source. For MC the two clones were combined to form the sequence shown in FIG. 4 (see below). For MV the two clones could be combined to form the sequence shown in FIG. 5 in the manner described above.

An additional PCR was performed to supplement the MC clone with Pstl, PvuII, AscI and NcoI restriction sites immediately in front of the ATG start codon using the following oligonucleotide as an upstream primer:

AAACTGCAGCTGGCGCGCCATGGCAGGATTTCTGAT SEQ ID NO: 10

and a primer containing the complement sequence of bp 1297-1318 in FIG. 4 was used as a downstream primer.

The complete sequence for MC was generated by cloning the 5' end of the gene as a BglII-EcoRI fragment from one of the genomic clone (first clone) into the BamHI-EcoRI sites of pBluescript II KS+vector from Stratagene. The 3' end of the gene was then cloned into the modified pBluescript II KS+vector by ligating an NspV (blunt ended, using the DNA blunting kit from Amersham International)-EcoRI fragment from the other genomic clone (second clone) after the modified pBluescript II KS+vector had been digested with EcoRI and EcoRV. Then the intermediate part of the gene was cloned in to the further modified pBluescript II KS+vector as an EcoRI fragment from the first clone by ligating that fragment into the further modified pBluescript II KS+vector digested with EcoRI.

4. EXPRESSION OF THE GL GENE IN MICRO-ORGANISMS

The DNA sequence encoding the GL can be introduced into microorganisms to produce the enzyme with high specific activity and in large quantities.

In this regard, the MC gene (FIG. 4) was cloned as a XbaI-XhoI blunt ended (using the DNA blunting kit from Amersham International) fragment into the Pichia expression vector pHIL-D2 (containing the AOX1 promoter) digested with EcoRI and blunt ended (using the DNA blunting kit from Amersham International) for expression in Pichia pastoris (according to the protocol stated in the Pichia Expression Kit supplied by Invitrogen).

In another embodiment, the MC gene 1 (same as FIG. 4 except that it was modified by PCR to introduce restriction sites as described above) was cloned as a PvuII-XhoI blunt ended fragment (using the DNA blunting kit from Amersham International) into the Aspergillus expression vector pBARMTE1 (containing the methyl tryptophan resistance promoter from Neuropera crassa) digested with SmaI for expression in Aspergillus niger (Pall et al (1993) Fungal Genet Newslett. vol 40 pages 59-62). The protoplasts were prepared according to Daboussi et al (Curr Genet (1989) vol 15 pp (453-456) using lysing enzymes Sigma L-2773 and the lyticase Sigma L-8012. The transformation of the protoplasts was followed according to the protocol stated by Buxton et al (Gene (1985) vol 37 pp 207-214) except that for plating the transformed protoplasts the protocol laid out in Punt et al (Methods in Enzymology (1992) vol 216 pp 447-457) was followed but with the use of 0.6% osmotic stabilised top agarose.

The results showed that lyase activity was observed in the transformed Pichia pastoris and Aspergillus niger. These experiments are now described.

ANALYSES OF PICHIA LYASE TRANSFORMANTS AND ASPERGILLUS LYASE TRANSFORMANTS GENERAL METHODS

Preparation of cell-free extracts.

The cells were harvested by centrifugation at 9000 rpm for 5 min and washed with 0.9% NaCl and resuspended in the breaking buffer (50 mM K-phosphate, pH 7.5 containing 1 mM of EDTA, and 5% glycerol). Cells were broken using glass beads and vortex treatment. The breaking buffer contained 1 mM PMSF (protease inhibitor). The lyase extract (supernatant) was obtained after centrifugation at 9000 rpm for 5 min followed by centrifugation at 20,000×g for 5 min.

Assay of lyase activity by alkaline 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent (DNS)

One volume of lyase extract was mixed with an equal volume of 4% amylopectin solution. The reaction mixture was then incubated at a controlled temperature and samples vere removed at specified intervals and analyzed for AF.

The lyase activity was also analyzed using a radioactive method.

The reaction mixture contained 10 μl ¹⁴ C-starch solution (1 μCi; Sigma Chemicals Co.) and 10 μl of the lyase extract. The reaction mixture was left at 25° C. overnight and was then analyzed in the usual TLC system. The radioactive AF produced was detected using an Instant Imager (Pachard Instrument Co., Inc., Meriden, Conn.).

Electrophoresis and Western blotting

SDS-PAGE was performed using 8-25% gradient gels and the PhastSystem (Pharmacia). Western blottings was also run on a Semidry transfer unit of the PhastSystem. Primary antibodies raised against the lyase purified from the red seaweed collected at Qingdao (China) were used in a dilution of 1:100. Pig antirabbit IgG conjugated to alkaline phosphatase (Dako A/S, Glostrup, Denmark) were used as secondary antibodies and used in a dilution of 1:1000.

Part I, Analysis of the Pichia transformantscontaining the above mentioned construct

    ______________________________________     MC-Lyase expressed intracellularly in Pichia pastoris     Names of culture                    Specific activity*     ______________________________________     A18            10     A20            32     A21            8     A22            8     A24            6     ______________________________________      *The specific activity was defined as nmol of AF produced per min per mg      protein at 25° C.

Part II, The Aspergilus transformants

Results

I. Lyase activity was determined after 5 days incubation(minimal medium containing 0.2% casein enzymatic hydrolysate analysis by the alkaline 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reagent

    ______________________________________     Lyase activity analysis in cell-free extracts     Name of the culture                    Specific activity*     ______________________________________     8.13           11     8.16           538     8.19           37     ______________________________________      *The specific activity was defined as nmol of AF produced per min per mg      protein at 25° C.

The results show that the MC-lyase was expressed intracellular in A. niger.

Instead of Aspergillus niger as host, other industrial important nicroorganisms for which good expression systems are known could be used such as: Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus sp., Trichoderma sp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces sp., Hansenula sp., Pichia sp., Bacillus subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus sp., Streptomyces sp. or E. coli.

Other preferred embodiments of the present invention include any one of the following: A transformed host organism having the capability of producing AF as a consequence of the introduction of a DNA sequence as herein described; such a transformed host organism which is a microorganism--preferably wherein the host organism is selected from the group consisting of bacteria, moulds, fungi and yeast; preferably the host organism is selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Aspergillus, Trichoderma Hansenula, Pichia, Bacillus Streptomyces, Eschericia such as Aspergillus oryzae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus sublilis, Bacillus amyloliquefascien, Eschericia coli.; A method for preparing the sugar 1,5-D-anhydrofructose comprising contacting an alpha 1,4-glucan (e.g. starch) with the enzyme α-1,4-glucan lyase expressed by a transformed host organism comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the same, preferably wherein the nucleotide sequence is a DNA sequence, preferably wherein the DNA sequence is one of the sequences hereinbefore described; A vector incorporating a nucleotide sequence as hereinbefore described, preferably wherein the vector is a replication vector, preferably wherein the vector is an expression vector containing the nucleotide sequence downstream from a promoter sequence, preferably the vector contains a marker (such as a resistance marker); Cellular organisms, or cell line, transformed with such a vector; A method of producing the product α-1,4-glucan lyase or any nucleotide sequence or part thereof coding for same, which comprises culturing such an organism (or cells from a cell line) transfected with such a vector and recovering the product.

Other modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING     - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 12     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 1:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 1066 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     #1:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     -      Met Ala Gly Phe Ser Asp Pro Leu - # Asn Phe Cys Lys Ala Glu Asp     Tyr     #   15     -      Tyr Ser Val Ala Leu Asp Trp Lys - # Gly Pro Gln Lys Ile Ile Gly     Val     #                 30     -      Asp Thr Thr Pro Pro Lys Ser Thr - # Lys Phe Pro Lys Asn Trp His     Gly     #             45     -      Val Asn Leu Arg Phe Asp Asp Gly - # Thr Leu Gly Val Val Gln Phe     Ile     #         60     -      Arg Pro Cys Val Trp Arg Val Arg - # Tyr Asp Pro Gly Phe Lys Thr     Ser     #     80     -      Asp Glu Tyr Gly Asp Glu Asn Thr - # Arg Thr Ile Val Gln Asp Tyr     Met     #   95     -      Ser Thr Leu Ser Asn Lys Leu Asp - # Thr Tyr Arg Gly Leu Thr Trp     Glu     #                110     -      Thr Lys Cys Glu Asp Ser Gly Asp - # Phe Phe Thr Phe Ser Ser Lys     Val     #            125     -      Thr Ala Val Glu Lys Ser Glu Arg - # Thr Arg Asn Lys Val Gly Asp     Gly     #        140     -      Leu Arg Ile His Leu Trp Lys Ser - # Pro Phe Arg Ile Gln Val Val     Arg     #    160     -      Thr Leu Thr Pro Leu Lys Asp Pro - # Tyr Pro Ile Pro Asn Val Ala     Ala     #   175     -      Ala Glu Ala Arg Val Ser Asp Lys - # Val Val Trp Gln Thr Ser Pro     Lys     #                190     -      Thr Phe Arg Lys Asn Leu His Pro - # Gln His Lys Met Leu Lys Asp     Thr     #            205     -      Val Leu Asp Ile Val Lys Pro Gly - # His Gly Glu Tyr Val Gly Trp     Gly     #        220     -      Glu Met Gly Gly Ile Gln Phe Met - # Lys Glu Pro Thr Phe Met Asn     Tyr     #    240     -      Phe Asn Phe Asp Asn Met Gln Tyr - # Gln Gln Val Tyr Ala Gln Gly     Ala     #   255     -      Leu Asp Ser Arg Glu Pro Leu Tyr - # His Ser Asp Pro Phe Tyr Leu     Asp     #                270     -      Val Asn Ser Asn Pro Glu His Lys - # Asn Ile Thr Ala Thr Phe Ile     Asp     #            285     -      Asn Tyr Ser Gln Ile Ala Ile Asp - # Phe Gly Lys Thr Asn Ser Gly     Tyr     #        300     -      Ile Lys Leu Gly Thr Arg Tyr Gly - # Gly Ile Asp Cys Tyr Gly Ile     Ser     #    320     -      Ala Asp Thr Val Pro Glu Ile Val - # Arg Leu Tyr Thr Gly Leu Val     Gly     #   335     -      Arg Ser Lys Leu Lys Pro Arg Tyr - # Ile Leu Gly Ala His Gln Ala     Cys     #                350     -      Tyr Gly Tyr Gln Gln Glu Ser Asp - # Leu Tyr Ser Val Val Gln Gln     Tyr     #            365     -      Arg Asp Cys Lys Phe Pro Leu Asp - # Gly Ile His Val Asp Val Asp     Val     #        380     -      Gln Asp Gly Phe Arg Thr Phe Thr - # Thr Asn Pro His Thr Phe Pro     Asn     #    400     -      Pro Lys Glu Met Phe Thr Asn Leu - # Arg Asn Asn Gly Ile Lys Cys     Ser     #   415     -      Thr Asn Ile Thr Pro Val Ile Ser - # Ile Asn Asn Arg Glu Gly Gly     Tyr     #                430     -      Ser Thr Leu Leu Glu Gly Val Asp - # Lys Lys Tyr Phe Ile Met Asp     Asp     #            445     -      Arg Tyr Thr Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly - # Asn Ala Lys Asp Val Arg Tyr     Met     #        460     -      Tyr Tyr Gly Gly Gly Asn Lys Val - # Glu Val Asp Pro Asn Asp Val     Asn     #    480     -      Gly Arg Pro Asp Phe Lys Asp Asn - # Tyr Asp Phe Pro Ala Asn Phe     Asn     #   495     -      Ser Lys Gln Tyr Pro Tyr His Gly - # Gly Val Ser Tyr Gly Tyr Gly     Asn     #                510     -      Gly Ser Ala Gly Phe Tyr Pro Asp - # Leu Asn Arg Lys Glu Val Arg     Ile     #            525     -      Trp Trp Gly Met Gln Tyr Lys Tyr - # Leu Phe Asp Met Gly Leu Glu     Phe     #        540     -      Val Trp Gln Asp Met Thr Thr Pro - # Ala Ile His Thr Ser Tyr Gly     Asp     #    560     -      Met Lys Gly Leu Pro Thr Arg Leu - # Leu Val Thr Ser Asp Ser Val     Thr     #   575     -      Asn Ala Ser Glu Lys Lys Leu Ala - # Ile Glu Thr Trp Ala Leu Tyr     Ser     #                590     -      Tyr Asn Leu His Lys Ala Thr Trp - # His Gly Leu Ser Arg Leu Glu     Ser     #            605     -      Arg Lys Asn Lys Arg Asn Phe Ile - # Leu Gly Arg Gly Ser Tyr Ala     Gly     #        620     -      Ala Tyr Arg Phe Ala Gly Leu Trp - # Thr Gly Asp Asn Ala Ser Asn     Trp     #    640     -      Glu Phe Trp Lys Ile Ser Val Ser - # Gln Val Leu Ser Leu Gly Leu     Asn     #   655     -      Gly Val Cys Ile Ala Gly Ser Asp - # Thr Gly Gly Phe Glu Pro Tyr     Arg     #                670     -      Asp Ala Asn Gly Val Glu Glu Lys - # Tyr Cys Ser Pro Glu Leu Leu     Ile     #            685     -      Arg Trp Tyr Thr Gly Ser Phe Leu - # Leu Pro Trp Leu Arg Asn His     Tyr     #        700     -      Val Lys Lys Asp Arg Lys Trp Phe - # Gln Glu Pro Tyr Ser Tyr Pro     Lys     #    720     -      His Leu Glu Thr His Pro Glu Leu - # Ala Asp Gln Ala Trp Leu Tyr     Lys     #   735     -      Ser Val Leu Glu Ile Cys Arg Tyr - # Tyr Val Glu Leu Arg Tyr Ser     Leu     #                750     -      Ile Gln Leu Leu Tyr Asp Cys Met - # Phe Gln Asn Val Val Asp Gly     Met     #            765     -      Pro Ile Thr Arg Ser Met Leu Leu - # Thr Asp Thr Glu Asp Thr Thr     Phe     #        780     -      Phe Asn Glu Ser Gln Lys Phe Leu - # Asp Asn Gln Tyr Met Ala Gly     Asp     #    800     -      Asp Ile Leu Val Ala Pro Ile Leu - # His Ser Arg Lys Glu Ile Pro     Gly     #   815     -      Glu Asn Arg Asp Val Tyr Leu Pro - # Leu Tyr His Thr Trp Tyr Pro     Ser     #                830     -      Asn Leu Arg Pro Trp Asp Asp Gln - # Gly Val Ala Leu Gly Asn Pro     Val     #            845     -      Glu Gly Gly Ser Val Ile Asn Tyr - # Thr Ala Arg Ile Val Ala Pro     Glu     #        860     -      Asp Tyr Asn Leu Phe His Ser Val - # Val Pro Val Tyr Val Arg Glu     Gly     #    880     -      Ala Ile Ile Pro Gln Ile Glu Val - # Arg Gln Trp Thr Gly Gln Gly     Gly     #   895     -      Ala Asn Arg Ile Lys Phe Asn Ile - # Tyr Pro Gly Lys Asp Lys Glu     Tyr     #                910     -      Cys Thr Tyr Leu Asp Asp Gly Val - # Ser Arg Asp Ser Ala Pro Glu     Asp     #            925     -      Leu Pro Gln Tyr Lys Glu Thr His - # Glu Gln Ser Lys Val Glu Gly     Ala     #        940     -      Glu Ile Ala Lys Gln Ile Gly Lys - # Lys Thr Gly Tyr Asn Ile Ser     Gly     #    960     -      Thr Asp Pro Glu Ala Lys Gly Tyr - # His Arg Lys Val Ala Val Thr     Gln     #   975     -      Thr Ser Lys Asp Lys Thr Arg Thr - # Val Thr Ile Glu Pro Lys His     Asn     #                990     -      Gly Tyr Asp Pro Ser Lys Glu Val - # Gly Asp Tyr Tyr Thr Ile Ile     Leu     #           10050     -      Trp Tyr Ala Pro Gly Phe Asp Gly - # Ser Ile Val Asp Val Ser Lys     Thr     #       10205     -      Thr Val Asn Val Glu Gly Gly Val - # Glu His Gln Val Tyr Lys Asn     Ser     #  10405     -      Asp Leu His Thr Val Val Ile Asp - # Val Lys Glu Val Ile Gly Thr     Thr     # 10550     -      Lys Ser Val Lys Ile Thr Cys Thr - # Ala Ala                      1060 - #                1065     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 2:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 1070 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein     #2:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     -      Met Ala Gly Leu Ser Asp Pro Leu - # Asn Phe Cys Lys Ala Glu Asp     Tyr     #   15     -      Tyr Ala Ala Ala Lys Gly Trp Ser - # Gly Pro Gln Lys Ile Ile Arg     Tyr     #                 30     -      Asp Gln Thr Pro Pro Gln Gly Thr - # Lys Asp Pro Lys Ser Trp His     Ala     #             45     -      Val Asn Leu Pro Phe Asp Asp Gly - # Thr Met Cys Val Val Gln Phe     Val     #         60     -      Arg Pro Cys Val Trp Arg Val Arg - # Tyr Asp Pro Ser Val Lys Thr     Ser     #     80     -      Asp Glu Tyr Gly Asp Glu Asn Thr - # Arg Thr Ile Val Gln Asp Tyr     Met     #   95     -      Thr Thr Leu Val Gly Asn Leu Asp - # Ile Phe Arg Gly Leu Thr Trp     Val     #                110     -      Ser Thr Leu Glu Asp Ser Gly Glu - # Tyr Tyr Thr Phe Lys Ser Glu     Val     #            125     -      Thr Ala Val Asp Glu Thr Glu Arg - # Thr Arg Asn Lys Val Gly Asp     Gly     #        140     -      Leu Lys Ile Tyr Leu Trp Lys Asn - # Pro Phe Arg Ile Gln Val Val     Arg     #    160     -      Leu Leu Thr Pro Leu Val Asp Pro - # Phe Pro Ile Pro Asn Val Ala     Asn     #   175     -      Ala Thr Ala Arg Val Ala Asp Lys - # Val Val Trp Gln Thr Ser Pro     Lys     #                190     -      Thr Phe Arg Lys Asn Leu His Pro - # Gln His Lys Met Leu Lys Asp     Thr     #            205     -      Val Leu Asp Ile Ile Lys Pro Gly - # His Gly Glu Tyr Val Gly Trp     Gly     #        220     -      Glu Met Gly Gly Ile Glu Phe Met - # Lys Glu Pro Thr Phe Met Asn     Tyr     #    240     -      Phe Asn Phe Asp Asn Met Gln Tyr - # Gln Gln Val Tyr Ala Gln Gly     Ala     #   255     -      Leu Asp Ser Arg Glu Pro Leu Tyr - # His Ser Asp Pro Phe Tyr Leu     Asp     #                270     -      Val Asn Ser Asn Pro Glu His Lys - # Asn Ile Thr Ala Thr Phe Ile     Asp     #            285     -      Asn Tyr Ser Gln Ile Ala Ile Asp - # Phe Gly Lys Thr Asn Ser Gly     Tyr     #        300     -      Ile Lys Leu Gly Thr Arg Tyr Gly - # Gly Ile Asp Cys Tyr Gly Ile     Ser     #    320     -      Ala Asp Thr Val Pro Glu Ile Val - # Arg Leu Tyr Thr Gly Leu Val     Gly     #   335     -      Arg Ser Lys Leu Lys Pro Arg Tyr - # Ile Leu Gly Ala His Gln Ala     Cys     #                350     -      Tyr Gly Tyr Gln Gln Glu Ser Asp - # Leu His Ala Val Val Gln Gln     Tyr     #            365     -      Arg Asp Thr Lys Phe Pro Leu Asp - # Gly Leu His Val Asp Val Asp     Phe     #        380     -      Gln Asp Asn Phe Arg Thr Phe Thr - # Thr Asn Pro Ile Thr Phe Pro     Asn     #    400     -      Pro Lys Glu Met Phe Thr Asn Leu - # Arg Asn Asn Gly Ile Lys Cys     Ser     #   415     -      Thr Asn Ile Thr Pro Val Ile Ser - # Ile Arg Asp Arg Pro Asn Gly     Tyr     #                430     -      Ser Thr Leu Asn Glu Gly Tyr Asp - # Lys Lys Tyr Phe Ile Met Asp     Asp     #            445     -      Arg Tyr Thr Glu Gly Thr Ser Gly - # Asp Pro Gln Asn Val Arg Tyr     Ser     #        460     -      Phe Tyr Gly Gly Gly Asn Pro Val - # Glu Val Asn Pro Asn Asp Val     Trp     #    480     -      Ala Arg Pro Asp Phe Gly Asp Asn - # Tyr Asp Phe Pro Thr Asn Phe     Asn     #   495     -      Cys Lys Asp Tyr Pro Tyr His Gly - # Gly Val Ser Tyr Gly Tyr Gly     Asn     #                510     -      Gly Thr Pro Gly Tyr Tyr Pro Asp - # Leu Asn Arg Glu Glu Val Arg     Ile     #            525     -      Trp Trp Gly Leu Gln Tyr Glu Tyr - # Leu Phe Asn Met Gly Leu Glu     Phe     #        540     -      Val Trp Gln Asp Met Thr Thr Pro - # Ala Ile His Ser Ser Tyr Gly     Asp     #    560     -      Met Lys Gly Leu Pro Thr Arg Leu - # Leu Val Thr Ala Asp Ser Val     Thr     #   575     -      Asn Ala Ser Glu Lys Lys Leu Ala - # Ile Glu Ser Trp Ala Leu Tyr     Ser     #                590     -      Tyr Asn Leu His Lys Ala Thr Phe - # His Gly Leu Gly Arg Leu Glu     Ser     #            605     -      Arg Lys Asn Lys Arg Asn Phe Ile - # Leu Gly Arg Gly Ser Tyr Ala     Gly     #        620     -      Ala Tyr Arg Phe Ala Gly Leu Trp - # Thr Gly Asp Asn Ala Ser Thr     Trp     #    640     -      Glu Phe Trp Lys Ile Ser Val Ser - # Gln Val Leu Ser Leu Gly Leu     Asn     #   655     -      Gly Val Cys Ile Ala Gly Ser Asp - # Thr Gly Gly Phe Glu Pro Ala     Arg     #                670     -      Thr Glu Ile Gly Glu Glu Lys Tyr - # Cys Ser Pro Glu Leu Leu Ile     Arg     #            685     -      Trp Tyr Thr Gly Ser Phe Leu Leu - # Pro Trp Leu Arg Asn His Tyr     Val     #        700     -      Lys Lys Asp Arg Lys Trp Phe Gln - # Glu Pro Tyr Ala Tyr Pro Lys     His     #    720     -      Leu Glu Thr His Pro Glu Leu Ala - # Asp Gln Ala Trp Leu Tyr Lys     Ser     #   735     -      Val Leu Glu Ile Cys Arg Tyr Trp - # Val Glu Leu Arg Tyr Ser Leu     Ile     #                750     -      Gln Leu Leu Tyr Asp Cys Met Phe - # Gln Asn Val Val Asp Gly Met     Pro     #            765     -      Leu Ala Arg Ser Met Leu Leu Thr - # Asp Thr Glu Asp Thr Thr Phe     Phe     #        780     -      Asn Glu Ser Gln Lys Phe Leu Asp - # Asn Gln Tyr Met Ala Gly Asp     Asp     #    800     -      Ile Leu Val Ala Pro Ile Leu His - # Ser Arg Asn Glu Val Pro Gly     Glu     #   815     -      Asn Arg Asp Val Tyr Leu Pro Leu - # Phe His Thr Trp Tyr Pro Ser     Asn     #                830     -      Leu Arg Pro Trp Asp Asp Gln Gly - # Val Ala Leu Gly Asn Pro Val     Glu     #            845     -      Gly Gly Ser Val Ile Asn Tyr Thr - # Ala Arg Ile Val Ala Pro Glu     Asp     #        860     -      Tyr Asn Leu Phe His Asn Val Val - # Pro Val Tyr Ile Arg Glu Gly     Ala     #    880     -      Ile Ile Pro Gln Ile Gln Val Arg - # Gln Trp Ile Gly Glu Gly Gly     Pro     #   895     -      Asn Pro Ile Lys Phe Asn Ile Tyr - # Pro Gly Lys Asp Lys Glu Tyr     Val     #                910     -      Thr Tyr Leu Asp Asp Gly Val Ser - # Arg Asp Ser Ala Pro Asp Asp     Leu     #            925     -      Pro Gln Tyr Arg Glu Ala Tyr Glu - # Gln Ala Lys Val Glu Gly Lys     Asp     #        940     -      Val Gln Lys Gln Leu Ala Val Ile - # Gln Gly Asn Lys Thr Asn Asp     Phe     #    960     -      Ser Ala Ser Gly Ile Asp Lys Glu - # Ala Lys Gly Tyr His Arg Lys     Val     #   975     -      Ser Ile Lys Gln Glu Ser Lys Asp - # Lys Thr Arg Thr Val Thr Ile     Glu     #                990     -      Pro Lys His Asn Gly Tyr Asp Pro - # Ser Lys Glu Val Gly Asn Tyr     Tyr     #           10050     -      Thr Ile Ile Leu Trp Tyr Ala Pro - # Gly Phe Asp Gly Ser Ile Val     Asp     #       10205     -      Val Ser Gln Ala Thr Val Asn Ile - # Glu Gly Gly Val Glu Cys Glu     Ile     #  10405     -      Phe Lys Asn Thr Gly Leu His Thr - # Val Val Val Asn Val Lys Glu     Val     # 10550     -      Ile Gly Thr Thr Lys Ser Val Lys - # Ile Thr Cys Thr Thr Ala     #               10700 - #                1065     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 3:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 3201 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: double               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     #3:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     - ATGGCAGGAT TTTCTGATCC TCTCAACTTT TGCAAAGCAG AAGACTACTA CA - #GTGTTGCG       60     - CTAGACTGGA AGGGCCCTCA AAAAATCATT GGAGTAGACA CTACTCCTCC AA - #AGAGCACC      120     - AAGTTCCCCA AAAACTGGCA TGGAGTGAAC TTGAGATTCG ATGATGGGAC TT - #TAGGTGTG      180     - GTTCAGTTCA TTAGGCCGTG CGTTTGGAGG GTTAGATACG ACCCTGGTTT CA - #AGACCTCT      240     - GACGAGTATG GTGATGAGAA TACGAGGACA ATTGTGCAAG ATTATATGAG TA - #CTCTGAGT      300     - AATAAATTGG ATACTTATAG AGGTCTTACG TGGGAAACCA AGTGTGAGGA TT - #CGGGAGAT      360     - TTCTTTACCT TCTCATCCAA GGTCACCGCC GTTGAAAAAT CCGAGCGGAC CC - #GCAACAAG      420     - GTCGGCGATG GCCTCAGAAT TCACCTATGG AAAAGCCCTT TCCGCATCCA AG - #TAGTGCGC      480     - ACCTTGACCC CTTTGAAGGA TCCTTACCCC ATTCCAAATG TAGCCGCAGC CG - #AAGCCCGT      540     - GTGTCCGACA AGGTCGTTTG GCAAACGTCT CCCAAGACAT TCAGAAAGAA CC - #TGCATCCG      600     - CAACACAAGA TGCTAAAGGA TACAGTTCTT GACATTGTCA AACCTGGACA TG - #GCGAGTAT      660     - GTGGGGTGGG GAGAGATGGG AGGTATCCAG TTTATGAAGG AGCCAACATT CA - #TGAACTAT      720     - TTTAACTTCG ACAATATGCA ATACCAGCAA GTCTATGCCC AAGGTGCTCT CG - #ATTCTCGC      780     - GAGCCACTGT ACCACTCGGA TCCCTTCTAT CTTGATGTGA ACTCCAACCC GG - #AGCACAAG      840     - AATATCACGG CAACCTTTAT CGATAACTAC TCTCAAATTG CCATCGACTT TG - #GAAAGACC      900     - AACTCAGGCT ACATCAAGCT GGGAACCAGG TATGGTGGTA TCGATTGTTA CG - #GTATCAGT      960     - GCGGATACGG TCCCGGAAAT TGTACGACTT TATACAGGTC TTGTTGGACG TT - #CAAAGTTG     1020     - AAGCCCAGAT ATATTCTCGG GGCCCATCAA GCCTGTTATG GATACCAACA GG - #AAAGTGAC     1080     - TTGTATTCTG TGGTCCAGCA GTACCGTGAC TGTAAATTTC CACTTGACGG GA - #TTCACGTC     1140     - GATGTCGATG TTCAGGACGG CTTCAGAACT TTCACCACCA ACCCACACAC TT - #TCCCTAAC     1200     - CCCAAAGAGA TGTTTACTAA CTTGAGGAAT AATGGAATCA AGTGCTCCAC CA - #ATATCACT     1260     - CCTGTTATCA GCATTAACAA CAGAGAGGGT GGATACAGTA CCCTCCTTGA GG - #GAGTTGAC     1320     - AAAAAATACT TTATCATGGA CGACAGATAT ACCGAGGGAA CAAGTGGGAA TG - #CGAAGGAT     1380     - GTTCGGTACA TGTACTACGG TGGTGGTAAT AAGGTTGAGG TCGATCCTAA TG - #ATGTTAAT     1440     - GGTCGGCCAG ACTTTAAAGA CAACTATGAC TTCCCCGCGA ACTTCAACAG CA - #AACAATAC     1500     - CCCTATCATG GTGGTGTGAG CTACGGTTAT GGGAACGGTA GTGCAGGTTT TT - #ACCCGGAC     1560     - CTCAACAGAA AGGAGGTTCG TATCTGGTGG GGAATGCAGT ACAAGTATCT CT - #TCGATATG     1620     - GGACTGGAAT TTGTGTGGCA AGACATGACT ACCCCAGCAA TCCACACATC AT - #ATGGAGAC     1680     - ATGAAAGGGT TGCCCACCCG TCTACTCGTC ACCTCAGACT CCGTCACCAA TG - #CCTCTGAG     1740     - AAAAAGCTCG CAATTGAAAC TTGGGCTCTC TACTCCTACA ATCTCCACAA AG - #CAACTTGG     1800     - CATGGTCTTA GTCGTCTCGA ATCTCGTAAG AACAAACGAA ACTTCATCCT CG - #GGCGTGGA     1860     - AGTTATGCCG GAGCCTATCG TTTTGCTGGT CTCTGGACTG GGGATAATGC AA - #GTAACTGG     1920     - GAATTCTGGA AGATATCGGT CTCTCAAGTT CTTTCTCTGG GCCTCAATGG TG - #TGTGCATC     1980     - GCGGGGTCTG ATACGGGTGG TTTTGAACCC TACCGTGATG CAAATGGGGT CG - #AGGAGAAA     2040     - TACTGTAGCC CAGAGCTACT CATCAGGTGG TATACTGGTT CATTCCTCTT GC - #CGTGGCTC     2100     - AGGAACCATT ATGTCAAAAA GGACAGGAAA TGGTTCCAGG AACCATACTC GT - #ACCCCAAG     2160     - CATCTTGAAA CCCATCCAGA ACTCGCAGAC CAAGCATGGC TCTATAAATC CG - #TTTTGGAG     2220     - ATCTGTAGGT ACTATGTGGA GCTTAGATAC TCCCTCATCC AACTACTTTA CG - #ACTGCATG     2280     - TTTCAAAACG TAGTCGACGG TATGCCAATC ACCAGATCTA TGCTCTTGAC CG - #ATACTGAG     2340     - GATACCACCT TCTTCAACGA GAGCCAAAAG TTCCTCGACA ACCAATATAT GG - #CTGGTGAC     2400     - GACATTCTTG TTGCACCCAT CCTCCACAGT CGCAAAGAAA TTCCAGGCGA AA - #ACAGAGAT     2460     - GTCTATCTCC CTCTTTACCA CACCTGGTAC CCCTCAAATT TGAGACCATG GG - #ACGATCAA     2520     - GGAGTCGCTT TGGGGAATCC TGTCGAAGGT GGTAGTGTCA TCAATTATAC TG - #CTAGGATT     2580     - GTTGCACCCG AGGATTATAA TCTCTTCCAC AGCGTGGTAC CAGTCTACGT TA - #GAGAGGGT     2640     - GCCATCATCC CGCAAATCGA AGTACGCCAA TGGACTGGCC AGGGGGGAGC CA - #ACCGCATC     2700     - AAGTTCAACA TCTACCCTGG AAAGGATAAG GAGTACTGTA CCTATCTTGA TG - #ATGGTGTT     2760     - AGCCGTGATA GTGCGCCGGA AGACCTCCCA CAGTACAAAG AGACCCACGA AC - #AGTCGAAG     2820     - GTTGAAGGCG CGGAAATCGC AAAGCAGATT GGAAAGAAGA CGGGTTACAA CA - #TCTCAGGA     2880     - ACCGACCCAG AAGCAAAGGG TTATCACCGC AAAGTTGCTG TCACACAAAC GT - #CAAAAGAC     2940     - AAGACGCGTA CTGTCACTAT TGAGCCAAAA CACAATGGAT ACGACCCTTC CA - #AAGAGGTG     3000     - GGTGATTATT ATACCATCAT TCTTTGGTAC GCACCAGGTT TCGATGGCAG CA - #TCGTCGAT     3060     - GTGAGCAAGA CGACTGTGAA TGTTGAGGGT GGGGTGGAGC ACCAAGTTTA TA - #AGAACTCC     3120     - GATTTACATA CGGTTGTTAT CGACGTGAAG GAGGTGATCG GTACCACAAA GA - #GCGTCAAG     3180     #                3201TA A     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 4:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 3213 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: double               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     #4:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     - ATGGCAGGAT TATCCGACCC TCTCAATTTC TGCAAAGCAG AGGACTACTA CG - #CTGCTGCC       60     - AAAGGCTGGA GTGGCCCTCA GAAGATCATT CGCTATGACC AGACCCCTCC TC - #AGGGTACA      120     - AAAGATCCGA AAAGCTGGCA TGCGGTAAAC CTTCCTTTCG ATGACGGGAC TA - #TGTGTGTA      180     - GTGCAATTCG TCAGACCCTG TGTTTGGAGG GTTAGATATG ACCCCAGTGT CA - #AGACTTCT      240     - GATGAGTACG GCGATGAGAA TACGAGGACT ATTGTACAAG ACTACATGAC TA - #CTCTGGTT      300     - GGAAACTTGG ACATTTTCAG AGGTCTTACG TGGGTTTCTA CGTTGGAGGA TT - #CGGGCGAG      360     - TACTACACCT TCAAGTCCGA AGTCACTGCC GTGGACGAAA CCGAACGGAC TC - #GAAACAAG      420     - GTCGGCGACG GCCTCAAGAT TTACCTATGG AAAAATCCCT TTCGCATCCA GG - #TAGTGCGT      480     - CTCTTGACCC CCCTGGTGGA CCCTTTCCCC ATTCCCAACG TAGCCAATGC CA - #CAGCCCGT      540     - GTGGCCGACA AGGTTGTTTG GCAGACGTCC CCGAAGACGT TCAGGAAAAA CT - #TGCATCCG      600     - CAGCATAAGA TGTTGAAGGA TACAGTTCTT GATATTATCA AGCCGGGGCA CG - #GAGAGTAT      660     - GTGGGTTGGG GAGAGATGGG AGGCATCGAG TTTATGAAGG AGCCAACATT CA - #TGAATTAT      720     - TTCAACTTTG ACAATATGCA ATATCAGCAG GTCTATGCAC AAGGCGCTCT TG - #ATAGTCGT      780     - GAGCCGTTGT ATCACTCTGA TCCCTTCTAT CTCGACGTGA ACTCCAACCC AG - #AGCACAAG      840     - AACATTACGG CAACCTTTAT CGATAACTAC TCTCAGATTG CCATCGACTT TG - #GGAAGACC      900     - AACTCAGGCT ACATCAAGCT GGGTACCAGG TATGGCGGTA TCGATTGTTA CG - #GTATCAGC      960     - GCGGATACGG TCCCGGAGAT TGTGCGACTT TATACTGGAC TTGTTGGGCG TT - #CGAAGTTG     1020     - AAGCCCAGGT ATATTCTCGG AGCCCACCAA GCTTGTTATG GATACCAGCA GG - #AAAGTGAC     1080     - TTGCATGCTG TTGTTCAGCA GTACCGTGAC ACCAAGTTTC CGCTTGATGG GT - #TGCATGTC     1140     - GATGTCGACT TTCAGGACAA TTTCAGAACG TTTACCACTA ACCCGATTAC GT - #TCCCTAAT     1200     - CCCAAAGAAA TGTTTACCAA TCTAAGGAAC AATGGAATCA AGTGTTCCAC CA - #ACATCACC     1260     - CCTGTTATCA GTATCAGAGA TCGCCCGAAT GGGTACAGTA CCCTCAATGA GG - #GATATGAT     1320     - AAAAAGTACT TCATCATGGA TGACAGATAT ACCGAGGGGA CAAGTGGGGA CC - #CGCAAAAT     1380     - GTTCGATACT CTTTTTACGG CGGTGGGAAC CCGGTTGAGG TTAACCCTAA TG - #ATGTTTGG     1440     - GCTCGGCCAG ACTTTGGAGA CAATTATGAC TTCCCTACGA ACTTCAACTG CA - #AAGACTAC     1500     - CCCTATCATG GTGGTGTGAG TTACGGATAT GGGAATGGCA CTCCAGGTTA CT - #ACCCTGAC     1560     - CTTAACAGAG AGGAGGTTCG TATCTGGTGG GGATTGCAGT ACGAGTATCT CT - #TCAATATG     1620     - GGACTAGAGT TTGTATGGCA AGATATGACA ACCCCAGCGA TCCATTCATC AT - #ATGGAGAC     1680     - ATGAAAGGGT TGCCCACCCG TCTGCTCGTC ACCGCCGACT CAGTTACCAA TG - #CCTCTGAG     1740     - AAAAAGCTCG CAATTGAAAG TTGGGCTCTT TACTCCTACA ACCTCCATAA AG - #CAACCTTC     1800     - CACGGTCTTG GTCGTCTTGA GTCTCGTAAG AACAAACGTA ACTTCATCCT CG - #GACGTGGT     1860     - AGTTACGCCG GTGCCTATCG TTTTGCTGGT CTCTGGACTG GAGATAACGC AA - #GTACGTGG     1920     - GAATTCTGGA AGATTTCGGT CTCCCAAGTT CTTTCTCTAG GTCTCAATGG TG - #TGTGTATA     1980     - GCGGGGTCTG ATACGGGTGG TTTTGAGCCC GCACGTACTG AGATTGGGGA GG - #AGAAATAT     2040     - TGCAGTCCGG AGCTACTCAT CAGGTGGTAT ACTGGATCAT TCCTTTTGCC AT - #GGCTTAGA     2100     - AACCACTACG TCAAGAAGGA CAGGAAATGG TTCCAGGAAC CATACGCGTA CC - #CCAAGCAT     2160     - CTTGAAACCC ATCCAGAGCT CGCAGATCAA GCATGGCTTT ACAAATCTGT TC - #TAGAAATT     2220     - TGCAGATACT GGGTAGAGCT AAGATATTCC CTCATCCAGC TCCTTTACGA CT - #GCATGTTC     2280     - CAAAACGTGG TCGATGGTAT GCCACTTGCC AGATCTATGC TCTTGACCGA TA - #CTGAGGAT     2340     - ACGACCTTCT TCAATGAGAG CCAAAAGTTC CTCGATAACC AATATATGGC TG - #GTGACGAC     2400     - ATCCTTGTAG CACCCATCCT CCACAGCCGT AACGAGGTTC CGGGAGAGAA CA - #GAGATGTC     2460     - TATCTCCCTC TATTCCACAC CTGGTACCCC TCAAACTTGA GACCGTGGGA CG - #ATCAGGGA     2520     - GTCGCTTTAG GGAATCCTGT CGAAGGTGGC AGCGTTATCA ACTACACTGC CA - #GGATTGTT     2580     - GCCCCAGAGG ATTATAATCT CTTCCACAAC GTGGTGCCGG TCTACATCAG AG - #AGGGTGCC     2640     - ATCATTCCGC AAATTCAGGT ACGCCAGTGG ATTGGCGAAG GAGGGCCTAA TC - #CCATCAAG     2700     - TTCAATATCT ACCCTGGAAA GGACAAGGAG TATGTGACGT ACCTTGATGA TG - #GTGTTAGC     2760     - CGCGATAGTG CACCAGATGA CCTCCCGCAG TACCGCGAGG CCTATGAGCA AG - #CGAAGGTC     2820     - GAAGGCAAAG ACGTCCAGAA GCAACTTGCG GTCATTCAAG GGAATAAGAC TA - #ATGACTTC     2880     - TCCGCCTCCG GGATTGATAA GGAGGCAAAG GGTTATCACC GCAAAGTTTC TA - #TCAAACAG     2940     - GAGTCAAAAG ACAAGACCCG TACTGTCACC ATTGAGCCAA AACACAACGG AT - #ACGACCCC     3000     - TCTAAGGAAG TTGGTAATTA TTATACCATC ATTCTTTGGT ACGCACCGGG CT - #TTGACGGC     3060     - AGCATCGTCG ATGTGAGCCA GGCGACCGTG AACATCGAGG GCGGGGTGGA AT - #GCGAAATT     3120     - TTCAAGAACA CCGGCTTGCA TACGGTTGTA GTCAACGTGA AAGAGGTGAT CG - #GTACCACA     3180     #       3213       CTTG CACTACCGCT TAG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 5:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #acids    (A) LENGTH: 75 amino               (B) TYPE: amino acid               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: peptide     #5:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     -      Lys Asn Leu His Pro Gln His Lys - # Met Leu Lys Asp Thr Val Leu     Asp     #   15     -      Ile Val Lys Pro Gly His Gly Glu - # Tyr Val Gly Trp Gly Glu Met     Gly     #                 30     -      Gly Ile Gln Phe Met Lys Glu Pro - # Thr Phe Met Asn Tyr Phe Asn     Phe     #             45     -      Asp Asn Met Gln Tyr Gln Gln Val - # Tyr Ala Gln Gly Ala Leu Asp     Ser     #         60     -      Arg Glu Pro Leu Tyr His Ser Asp - # Pro Phe Tyr     #     75     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 6:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(3,     #/standard.sub.-- name= "N is G or A"     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(6,     #/note= "N is C or T"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(3,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(9,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(15,     #/note= "N is G or A or T or C":     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(18,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(21,     #/note= "N is C or T"NFORMATION:     #6:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     #                23ANGA NAC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 7:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 23 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(3,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(6,     #/note= "N is C or T"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(9,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(15,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(18,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(21,     #/note= "N is C or T"NFORMATION:     #7:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     #                23ANGA NAC     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 8:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(3,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(6,     #/note= "N is G or A or T or C":     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(9,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(12,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(15,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(18,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     #8:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     # 20               GNTA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 9:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 20 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(3,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(6,     #/note= "N is G or A or T or C":     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(9,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(12,     #/note= "N is G or A or T or C":     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(15,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     -     (ix) FEATURE:               (A) NAME/KEY: misc.sub.-- - #difference     #"")      (B) LOCATION: replace(18,     #/note= "N is G or A"NFORMATION:     #9:   (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     # 20               GNTA     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO: 10:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 37 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: DNA (genomic)     #10:  (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:     #      37          GCCA TGGCAGGATT TTCTGAT     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:11:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 4726 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:11:     #CAAGAAACAA    60TTTGTTT ATTCTATTCT GTGCGGCAGA TATGCACTCA     #CGCACAAAGA   120TTCTAAT TACAGTTGTA GGTGCAGTTG AAAATCCGGT     #GGGTATGTGT   180AAGATGA TAACGCCTGA TTAGTACTCA AGGTTTAATT     #GCGGCAGCAA   240GGCTAGC ATTACCTGAT TGGTTACAAC TGCAAATACT     #ATTTTATATT   300CAGCATC GATAGCTCGG CCTCATAAAA ATTGATTTCA     #TCTTCATTCT   360TCGAATC CTATATAATG GCCATCGTTC CCTCCTCGCC     #TTCCGAACAA   420AGCTCAG TCATCCCTCA ACTTGGCCTC CTCTGATATC     #TGGCAGGATT   480ATCTTTT TTTGAGCTAG ATCTCATTAT ACCTCCGTCA     #TAGACTGGAA   540AACTTTT GCAAAGCAGA AGACTACTAC AGTGTTGCGC     #AGTTCCCCAA   600ATCATTG GAGTAGACAC TACTCCTCCA AAGAGCACCA     #TTCAGTTCAT   660GTGAACT TGAGATTCGA TGATGGGACT TTAGGTGTGG     #ACGAGTATGG   720TGGAGGG TTAGATACGA CCCTGGTTTC AAGACCTCTG     #ATATGCTAAT   780TGAGTTA CCCCATATGT CATTATTGGT AGCGAAAAAC     #CTGAGTAATA   840ATATAGG AGGACAATTG TGCAAGATTA TATGAGTACT     #GGAGATTTCT   900TAGAGGT CTTACGTGGG AAACCAAGTG TGAGGATTCG     #CACCACTAAC   960AAGTGCC AGTACTGCTA TAGCTCCGCT ATATATATAA     #CCCGCAACAA  1020TAGTCCA AGGTCACCGC CGTTGAAAAA TCCGAGCGGA     #AAGTAGTGCG  1080CTCAGAA TTCACCTATG GAAAAGCCCT TTCCGCATCC     #CCGAAGCCCG  1140TTGAAGG ATCCTTACCC CATTCCAAAT GTAGCCGCAG     #ACCTGCATCC  1200GTCGTTT GGCAAACGTC TCCCAAGACA TTCAGAAAGA     #ATGGCGAGTA  1260CTAAAGG ATACAGTTCT TGACATTGTC AAACCTGGAC     #TCATGAACTA  1320GAGATGG GAGGTATCCA GTTTATGAAG GAGCCAACAT     #ACTAACCCAG  1380CGAAGAG GTTCCTTATA AATTCTTGGT GGTCATTTTT     #TCGATTCTCG  1440AATATGC AATACCAGCA AGTCTATGCC CAAGGTGCTC     #CTTTCAACAA  1500GTACCGT CCTGTGGCAC GACTTAACCC AATAACTAAT     #AAGAATATCA  1560TCCCTTC TATCTTGATG TGAACTCCAA CCCGGAGCAC     #ACCAACTCAG  1620CGATAAC TACTCTCAAA TTGCCATCGA CTTTGGAAAG     #AGTGCGGATA  1680GGGAACC AGGTATGGTG GTATCGATTG TTACGGTATC     #TTGAAGCCCA  1740TGTACGA CTTTATACAG GTCTTGTTGG ACGTTCAAAG     #ATTTATCAGA  1800GGCCCAT CAAGCCTGTA AGTCCTTCCC CTCATGAGTG     #AAGTGACTTG  1860CTAACCT CGTTTTCAAA GGTTATGGAT ACCAACAGGA     #TCACGTCGAT  1920AGCAGTA CCGTGACTGT AAATTTCCAC TTGACGGGAT     #TCTAACTGTG  1980TAAATGG CCATGGTATC ATTGAAGCTT TGAGAAATGT     #CTTTCCCTAA  2040TAGGACG GCTTCAGAAC TTTCACCACC AACCCACACA     #CCAATATCAC  2100TTTACTA ACTTGAGGAA TAATGGAATC AAGTGCTCCA     #AGGGAGTTGA  2160ATTAACA ACAGAGAGGG TGGATACAGT ACCCTCCTTG     #ATGCGAAGGA  2220ATCATGG ACGACAGATA TACCGAGGGA ACAAGTGGGA     #ATGATGTTAA  2280TACTACG GTGGTGGTAA TAAGGTTGAG GTCGATCCTA     #TAGGTAACCC  2340TTTAAAG ACAACTAGTA AGTTGTTTAT TTGACTACGA     #AAACAATACC  2400ACATATT TGTAGTGACT TCCCCGCGAA CTTCAACAGC     #GATATCTCAC  2460TGTGAGC TACGGTTATG GGAACGGTAG TGTAAGTGAC     #GGTTTTTACC  2520TTTATAA GGACTAACTA GACACAAAAA TTTGTAGGCA     #TATCTCTTCG  2580AAAGGAG GTTCGTATCT GGTGGGGAAT GCAGTACAAG     #ACATCATATG  2640ATTTGTG TGGCAAGACA TGACTACCCC AGCAATCCAC     #ACCAATGCCT  2700GTTGCCC ACCCGTCTAC TCGTCACCTC AGACTCCGTC     #CACAAAGCAA  2760CGCAATT GAAACTTGGG CTCTCTACTC CTACAATCTC     #ATCCTCGGGC  2820TAGTCGT CTCGAATCTC GTAAGAACAA ACGAAACTTC     #AATGCAAGTA  2880CGGAGCC TATCGTTTTG CTGGTCTCTG GACTGGGGAT     #AATGGTGTGT  2940GAAGATA TCGGTCTCTC AAGTTCTTTC TCTGGGCCTC     #GGGGTCGAGG  3000TGATACG GGTGGTTTTG AACCCTACCG TGATGCAAAT     #CTCTTGCCGT  3060CCCAGAG CTACTCATCA GGTGGTATAC TGGTTCATTC     #TATCCTTTCT  3120TTATGTC AAAAAGGACA GGAAATGGTT CCAGGTAATC     #TACCCCAAGC  3180TTGAAGA TACTAAGATA TAATCTAGGA ACCATACTCG     #GTTTTGGAGA  3240TCCAGAA CTCGCAGACC AAGCATGGCT CTATAAATCC     #GACTGCATGT  3300TGTGGAG CTTAGATACT CCCTCATCCA ACTACTTTAC     #CTACCCTAGG  3360CGACGGT ATGCCAATCA CCAGATCTAT GGTATGTATT     #ACCGATACTG  3420ATATGCT AACCAATTGA ACCTGGGTTT CTAGCTCTTG     #ATGGCTGGTG  3480CTTCAAC GAGAGCCAAA AGTTCCTCGA CAACCAATAT     #GAAAACAGAG  3540TGCACCC ATCCTCCACA GTCGCAAAGA AATTCCAGGC     #TGGGACGATC  3600TCTTTAC CACACCTGGT ACCCCTCAAA TTTGAGACCA     #ACTGCTAGGA  3660GGGGAAT CCTGTCGAAG GTGGTAGTGT CATCAATTAT     #GTTAGAGAGG  3720GGATTAT AATCTCTTCC ACAGCGTGGT ACCAGTCTAC     #CTAACGCTAT  3780TAATCTC TTCCCAGTTT CAAATACATT TAGCTAGTAG     #CCAGGGGGGA  3840CCATCAT CCCGCAAATC GAAGTACGCC AATGGACTGG     #CAATGATCAC  3900AGTTCAA CATCTACCCT GGAAAGGATA AGGTAAAATT     #TCAAAATACA  3960CATCGCT GGTTTTCTTT ACCCTTACTG ACTTCATTCC     #AAGACCTCCC  4020TATCTTG ATGATGGTGT TAGCCGTGAT AGTGCGCCGG     #CAAAGCAGAT  4080ACCCACG AACAGTCGAA GGTTGAAGGC GCGGAAATCG     #GTTATCACCG  4140GGTTACA ACATCTCAGG AACCGACCCA GAAGCAAAGG     #GACATCATGC  4200ACACAAG TAATACCGCC CTTGACTTGT ATCACTTCCT     #TCACTATTGA  4260TTTACCT CAAAGACGTC AAAAGACAAG ACGCGTACTG     #CCATCATTCT  4320GGATACG ACCCTTCCAA AGAGGTGGGT GATTATTATA     #CTGTGAATGT  4380GGTTTCG ATGGCAGCAT CGTCGATGTG AGCAAGACGA     #TTGTTATCGA  4440GAGCACC AAGTTTATAA GAACTCCGAT TTACATACGG     #CCGCTTAAGG  4500ATCGGTA CCACAAAGAG CGTCAAGATC ACATGTACTG     #TAACTCCGGG  4560GCGGGAG GCGAGACCTT CGAAATGTAT ACGGGAGTGG     #ATTTCTTTAT  4620GGGGGAT CAAGTTGGAG GGGAATCTGT TTATTTCTTT     #GTTGGCCTCT  4680AAATAGG GAGCACAGTT CTGACTGGAT TGGTTTGATT     #               4726TTGT CTGGAAATCC AATTTATTGT TATGCG     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:12:     -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:     #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 4670 base               (B) TYPE: nucleic acid               (C) STRANDEDNESS: single               (D) TOPOLOGY: linear     -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA     -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:12:     #AGGAAACAAA    60CAGGCGT TTTTTGTTTT ATCCGCAGAG GTGCAGCAGC     #CACCAAGAAC   120CCTTGAC GCGGTTTTAG GTGCAGTTAA GGCCCGGGCG     #GTTTGATTGG   180GTCTAAA AAAGATCATA ATACCCGATT AGTGTTCATG     #CCAATATCAC   240TTTTACA GAGTTCAGCT TAGTTCATTG TTCGAAACTA     #CTTACATTTC   300GGCATTG ATAGCTCGGC TTGTGAAAGC TGATTACAAT     #CCTTTTGGTT   360GACTGAT CTATATATAA GGGTCATCAT TTCCTCTCCG     #TCCGTTGATA   420CCAGCCC AATCATCACC GTTGGCCTTT ACTTCTCTCT     #CCCTCCAACA   480ACATCTT GTCCACTGTT AGGCTAGCTC CCAGAATTAT     #GCTGCTGCCA   540CGACCCT CTCAATTTCT GCAAAGCAGA GGACTACTAC     #CAGGGTACAA   600CCCTCAG AAGATCATTC GCTATGACCA GACCCCTCCT     #ATGTGTGTAG   660CTGGCAT GCGGTAAACC TTCCTTTCGA TGACGGGACT     #AAGACTTCTG   720ACCCTGT GTTTGGAGGG TTAGATATGA CCCCAGTGTC     #GCTAGTGATT   780TGAGAAT ACGTGGGTCG CCCAGTCAAT TAACTATGCC     #ACAAGACTAC   840GCTAACC GATCAATGAG GCATGTAGGA GGACTATTGT     #TTCTACGTTG   900TTGGAAA CTTGGACATT TTCAGAGGTC TTACGTGGGT     #TCGAATATAT   960AGTACTA CACCTTCAAG GCAAGCCTCA GTGTTATATC     #GACGAAACCG  1020AAACTAA CTAGTCATAC AGTCCGAAGT CACTGCCGTG     #AATCCCTTTC  1080CAAGGTC GGCGACGGCC TCAAGATTTA CCTATGGAAA     #CCCAACGTAG  1140GCGTCTC TTGACCCCCC TGGTGGACCC TTTCCCCATT     #AAGACGTTCA  1200CCGTGTG GCCGACAAGG TTGTTTGGCA GACGTCCCCG     #ATTATCAAGC  1260TCCGCAG CATAAGATGT TGAAGGATAC AGTTCTTGAT     #ATGAAGGAGC  1320GTATGTG GGTTGGGGAG AGATGGGAGG CATCGAGTTT     #GACGGTCGTT  1380TTATTTC AGTAAGCTCT TGAAAGATTT CCTATCTCTT     #TGCACAAGGC  1440CTGTAGA CTTTGACAAT ATGCAATATC AGCAGGTCTA     #ATTACAGTAA  1500GTGAGCC GTTGTAAGTA ACGTCCTGTG ACATGTCATG     #TCCAACCCAG  1560AAGGTAT CACTCTGATC CCTTCTATCT CGACGTGAAC     #ATCGACTTTG  1620TACGGCA ACCTTTATCG ATAACTACTC TCAGATTGCC     #GATTGTTACG  1680AGGCTAC ATCAAGCTGG GTACCAGGTA TGGCGGTATC     #GTTGGGCGTT  1740TACGGTC CCGGAGATTG TGCGACTTTA TACTGGACTT     #GCCCCCTTTA  1800CAGGTAT ATTCTCGGAG CCCACCAAGC TTGTAAGCCC     #ATACCAGCAG  1860AGGGGTC CACAGACTAA ACTTGTTCCA AAGGTTATGG     #GCTTGATGGG  1920ATGCTGT TGTTCAGCAG TACCGTGACA CCAAGTTTCC     #TTTGGAGAAT  1980TCGACTT TCAGGTAAAT GGCCCAGGTA TCGTTGAAGC     #AACCCGATTA  2040GTAAAAC TTTAAGGACA ATTTCAGAAC GTTTACCACT     #AAGTGTTCCA  2100CAAAGAA ATGTTTACCA ATCTAAGGAA CAATGGAATC     #ACCCTCAATG  2160TGTTATC AGTATCAGAG ATCGCCCGAA TGGGTACAGT     #ACAAGTGGGG  2220AAAGTAC TTCATCATGG ATGACAGATA TACCGAGGGG     #GTTAACCCTA  2280TCGATAC TCTTTTTACG GCGGTGGGAA CCCGGTTGAG     #TAGGCTACTT  2340TCGGCCA GACTTTGGAG ACAATTAGTA AGTTACTCAA     #CTTCAACTGC  2400GGTGGCA TTAACACGAC TATAGTGACT TCCCTACGAA     #TGTAAGTGAT  2460ATCATGG TGGTGTGAGT TACGGATATG GGAATGGCAC     #AATTTTAGCC  2520TACAACG TAATTCATGG AGACTAATCA GTGGTAAATG     #TGCAGTACGA  2580GACCTTA ACAGAGAGGA GGTTCGTATC TGGTGGGGAT     #CAGCGATCCA  2640ATGGGAC TAGAGTTTGT ATGGCAAGAT ATGACAACCC     #CCGACTCAGT  2700GACATGA AAGGGTTGCC CACCCGTCTG CTCGTCACCG     #CCTACAACCT  2760GAGAAAA AGCTCGCAAT TGAAAGTTGG GCTCTTTACT     #AACGTAACTT  2820TTCCACG GTCTTGGTCG TCTTGAGTCT CGTAAGAACA     #GGACTGGAGA  2880GGTAGTT ACGCCGGTGC CTATCGTTTT GCTGGTCTCT     #CTCTAGGTCT  2940TGGGAAT TCTGGAAGAT TTCGGTCTCC CAAGTTCTTT     #GTACTGAGAT  3000ATAGCGG GGTCTGATAC GGGTGGTTTT GAGCCCGCAC     #GATCATTCCT  3060TATTGCA GTCCGGAGCT ACTCATCAGG TGGTATACTG     #AGGTAATATA  3120AGAAACC ACTACGTCAA GAAGGACAGG AAATGGTTCC     #ACGCGTACCC  3180CTGAGTA TCGAAGACGC TAAGACAATA TAGGAACCAT     #AATCTGTTCT  3240ACCCATC CAGAGCTCGC AGATCAAGCA TGGCTTTACA     #TTTACGACTG  3300TACTGGG TAGAGCTAAG ATATTCCCTC ATCCAGCTCC     #GCATTTTATC  3360GTGGTCG ATGGTATGCC ACTTGCCAGA TCTATGGTAT     #TTGACCGATA  3420GATAATG CACCAGTCTA ACCGAATTTT CTTTTAGCTC     #TATATGGCTG  3480CTTCTTC AATGAGAGCC AAAAGTTCCT CGATAACCAA     #GGAGAGAACA  3540TGTAGCA CCCATCCTCC ACAGCCGTAA CGAGGTTCCG     #CCGTGGGACG  3600CCCTCTA TTCCACACCT GGTACCCCTC AAACTTGAGA     #TACACTGCCA  3660TTTAGGG AATCCTGTCG AAGGTGGCAG CGTTATCAAC     #TACATCAGAG  3720AGAGGAT TATAATCTCT TCCACAACGT GGTGCCGGTC     #TGACACCTTA  3780GAATAAT TTCTTGCAAG TTCCAGATAC AAGTGGTTAC     #GGAGGGCCTA  3840CATTCCG CAAATTCAGG TACGCCAGTG GATTGGCGAA     #TGACTATCGC  3900CAATATC TACCCTGGAA AGGACAAGGT ATATTCTCCA     #GTGACGTACC  3960CTCTACT CGCACTAACT TCATCTGAAT ATAGGAGTAT     #CGCGAGGCCT  4020TAGCCGC GATAGTGCAC CAGATGACCT CCCGCAGTAC     #ATTCAAGGGA  4080GGTCGAA GGCAAAGACG TCCAGAAGCA ACTTGCGGTC     #TATCACCGCA  4140CTTCTCC GCCTCCGGGA TTGATAAGGA GGCAAAGGGT     #CTATTATATC  4200ACAGGTA CATGATTTCA TCTTCCTTTT TTCGCAGTCA     #ACTGTCACCA  4260TTCTCTT ATTTAAAAGG AGTCAAAAGA CAAGACCCGT     #TATACCATCA  4320CAACGGA TACGACCCCT CTAAGGAAGT TGGTAATTAT     #GCGACCGTGA  4380ACCGGGC TTTGACGGCA GCATCGTCGA TGTGAGCCAG     #ACGGTTGTAG  4440GGTGGAA TGCGAAATTT TCAAGAACAC CGGCTTGCAT     #ACTACCGCTT  4500GGTGATC GGTACCACAA AGTCCGTCAA GATCACTTGC     #AGCTTCTGGG  4560GAGGGGT ATATGGGAGT GGCAGCTCAG AAATTTGGGA     #ATTCTCTCTG  4620TATTTAC TTATTTATTG AATCGACCAA TACGGGTGGG     #            4670TATGTTT TACTTGGTCT GAAAATCAAA TTCGTTCTCA     __________________________________________________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A method of preparing fungal α-1,4-glucan lyase comprising isolating α-1,4-glucan lyase from a culture of a fungus.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the α-1,4-glucan lyase is isolated and/or further purified using a gel that is not degraded by α-1,4-lyase.
 3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the gel comprises dextrin.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the fungus is selected from the group consisting of Morchella costata or Morchella vulgaris.
 5. An α-1,4-glucan lyase enzyme prepared by the method of claim
 1. 6. An isolated fungal α-1,4-glucan lyase enzyme comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, and any variant thereof, said enzyme being obtainable from a culture of a fungus.
 7. An isolated polynucleotide fragment coding for fungal α-1,4-glucan lyase.
 8. The isolated polynucleotide according to claim 7 wherein the polynucleotide comprises DNA.
 9. An isolated polynucleotide according to claim 8 wherein the DNA comprises a sequence that is the same as, or is complementary to, or specifically hybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions with, or contains any suitable codon substitutions for any of those of, SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 10. A method of preparing α-1,4-glucan lyase enzyme comprising the step of expressing in a biological system a polynucleotide having a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4.
 11. A method according to claim 2, wherein the gel comprises a cyclodextrin.
 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the gel comprises beta-cyclodextrin. 